San Francisco prosecutors have formally charged 20-year-old Daniel Moreno-Gama after he allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The case includes two attempted murder charges, one tied to Altman and the other to a security guard who was present at the scene. According to the case details, the combined sentencing exposure for the attempted murder counts ranges from 19 years to life in prison.
The U.S. Department of Justice has also added federal charges, including attempted destruction of property by means of explosives and possession of an unregistered firearm. Moreno-Gama is being held pending formal court proceedings, and the FBI has classified the matter as a high-priority targeted violence case.
Attack at Altman’s residence was followed by threats at OpenAI headquarters
Authorities said the incident began at 3:37 a.m. on April 10, when Moreno-Gama appeared outside Altman’s private residence in San Francisco and threw a Molotov cocktail at the property. About 90 minutes later, he went to OpenAI’s headquarters, smashed the building’s glass front door with a chair, and shouted threats to burn down the entire building and kill everyone inside. Police then arrested him.
At a charging press conference, FBI agent Matt Cobo said the act was not impulsive but a planned and targeted criminal attack. That description has pushed the case beyond a single-property assault and into a broader investigation centered on intent, targeting, and possible risk to other individuals.
Handwritten notes named AI executives, board members, and investors
Federal investigators said they recovered handwritten material from Moreno-Gama that raised immediate concern. The first section of the document carried the heading “Your Last Warning” and stated that he had “killed/tried to kill” Altman. It also listed the names and home addresses of multiple AI industry executives, board members, and investors.
The closing message addressed Altman directly, saying that if he had somehow survived, it should be seen as the will of God and a chance for redemption. Investigators are focusing not only on the language of the threat, but also on the inclusion of private residential addresses for several people connected to the AI sector. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau has already carried out related action in Texas.
Second attack at the residence is under separate review
Authorities also disclosed that Altman’s residence was targeted again on April 13, this time in a shooting. Police arrested two suspects in that case. Investigators have not yet determined whether the shooting is connected to the earlier Molotov attack.
After the first incident, Altman posted a family photo on his personal blog late Friday night and wrote that he had underestimated the power of words and narratives. He also called on people across the AI industry to lower the intensity of confrontational rhetoric and tactics. The case now moves forward through the courts as investigators continue to examine the scope of the threat.